Kenyatta Jackson Jr. has spent years waiting for this moment. Now, in Ohio State’s season opener against Ball State, the former five-star finally gets the opportunity to make his presence felt as the centerpiece of Larry Johnson’s defensive line.
Jackson is my pick to make the biggest first impression for the defense on Saturday. The former top-100 national recruit has already shown flashes of why Ohio State believed in him when he arrived in Columbus.
After developing behind some of the best defensive
ends in the country, Jackson broke through in 2025, finishing with 28 tackles, 11 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks. More importantly, he became a trusted part of Ohio State’s rotation against Big Ten competition.
Now the circumstances are completely different. Caden Curry and Kayden McDonald are gone, and Jackson enters 2026 as one of the veteran leaders of a defensive front that needs new stars to emerge. Ball State provides an ideal opportunity to make that first statement.
Jackson should see a ton of snaps to establish himself before Ohio State begins navigating the much more difficult portion of its schedule. The Cardinals also give him a chance to attack rather than simply play within himself.
If Jackson can consistently win off the edge, create pressure and show the improved strength and technique that have been evident throughout his development, a multi-sack performance is certainly within his range.
And with Ohio State eventually facing Texas, Indiana, USC, Oregon and Michigan, the Buckeyes need Jackson to become more than a solid rotational player. They need him to become the defensive lineman opposing offenses have to game-plan around, and Ball State is the first opportunity to show he is ready for that responsibility.
Don’t overlook the rest of the rotation
Jackson may be the pick, but Ohio State has an absurd amount of talent competing for the spotlight.
Zion Grady may be the biggest threat to steal the show in my opinion. The sophomore has arguably the highest pure pass-rushing ceiling in the room outside of Jackson and has already shown enough as a young player to earn significant expectations entering 2026. His explosiveness, bend and closing speed make him the type of player who could turn a handful of snaps into multiple splash plays.
Qua Russaw is another name to watch. The former five-star Alabama transfer brings a completely different skill set to the defensive front. His versatility allows Ohio State to move him around, attack from different alignments and potentially create pressure without making his role predictable.
Ball State could be the first glimpse of how Matt Patricia plans to use him throughout the season.
Then there is Beau Atkinson, who arrives with legitimate production from his time at North Carolina and gives Ohio State another experienced edge defender. Atkinson has the opportunity to turn a strong offseason into meaningful game production, and the season opener should provide plenty of chances to establish himself in the rotation.
James Smith also deserves attention on the interior. The former five-star Alabama transfer brings size, strength and a high ceiling to Ohio State’s defensive front. While he is still developing within the Buckeyes’ system, his talent gives him the potential to become a major factor in the rotation.
Eddrick Houston is another interior defender who could make an immediate impact. The former five-star has moved from the edge to defensive tackle and has the athleticism and versatility to create problems from the inside. Houston could be poised for a significant step forward in 2026.
On the interior, John Walker could be one of the most important players to watch. The former UCF transfer gives Larry Johnson another powerful body inside, and he could play a significant role in replacing the production and physicality Ohio State lost from its interior defensive line last season.
That depth is what makes Saturday so intriguing. Ohio State does not need one defensive lineman to dominate Ball State. The Buckeyes have enough talent to attack in waves. But if Jackson is truly ready to become the next great Ohio State edge rusher, this is where the first evidence should appear.
The pick: Kenyatta Jackson Jr.
The expectation should not necessarily be a five-sack explosion. It is about seeing whether Jackson looks like a player who is ready to move from promising rotational piece to legitimate defensive centerpiece.
If he does, Ohio State may have found the next name in Larry Johnson’s long line of elite defensive linemen.
